Once Upon a Midnight Clear (Enchanted Realms) A Christmas Cinderella Fairy Tale Retelling by Michelle Miles ➱ .99 Cent Book Sale & Giveaway
A pair of enchanted glass slippers.
A dark and dangerous queen.
And the fate of a kingdom hangs in the balance.
Once Upon a Midnight Clear
Enchanted Realms Book 1
by Michelle Miles
Genre: YA Fantasy
A Christmas Cinderella Fairy Tale Retelling
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The chiming of the clock tower in Whitebridge clanged the
early morning hour. It was a faint bong, bong, bong that Ella counted as she
laid awake in her narrow, lumpy bed under the thin blanket dreading the coming
day. Dread was part of her morning routine now.
Sunlight peeked through the shabby draperies at her window as
dawn arrived. Even as another day of labor loomed, nothing killed the spirit of
the season inside her. Not even her stepmother and stepsisters. Not even their
nasty dispositions or the fact that her stepmother, Lillian, refused to
decorate for Christmas.
Except for a sad looking tree in the foyer with a few
decorations.
But Ella was not to be dissuaded. She dragged out all her
mother’s favorite decorations and placed them around her shabby third-floor
bedroom, trying to make the drab appearance a bit more cheerful. She placed her
favorite decoration on the top of the tree—a beautiful gold star.
She loved Christmas.
She shoved the blanket aside and walked to the window,
pushing open the curtain to peer down at the estate that had fallen into
disrepair. Since her father’s disappearance on a merchant trip several years
ago, Lillian squandered what was left of the estate’s money on satin and lace,
shoes and parasols for her two spoiled daughters. Meanwhile, the small manor
they lived in needed many repairs.
In the distance, the offending clock tower stood tall and
proud and ruled her day. From her window, the peak of it was clear as well as
the high turrets and heraldry of Whitebridge Palace. What was it like living in
a castle? Would she be a maid as she was here? Or would she find herself as one
of the noble ladies wearing beautiful gowns and having her every whim attended?
She sighed when the rooster crowed. It was time to start the
day. She looked out as the sun peeked over the horizon, illuminating the
outline of the castle beyond and the dusting of snow on the cold ground.
“One day, Papa,” she whispered, “I will find my way out of
here.”
She often spoke to her father, even though he’d been gone all
these long years.
She dressed, tied her long dark hair back with a blue ribbon,
and headed down to the kitchen for the day. She put a tea kettle on to boil.
Outside, she fed the chickens and gathered eggs, petted the dog, and gave the
cat his breakfast. In the distance, at the pond, geese honked their arrival.
She smiled. Later she would walk out to the edge of the pond and feed them,
too.
The servant’s bell rang. Her stepmother. She poured hot water
into the tea kettle, made a breakfast of porridge, eggs, and toast, and then
carried it up to the woman’s room. At the top of the stairs, she turned right
and headed down the hall to the largest bedroom. She rapped twice and waited.
“Enter,” came the abrupt, muffled response.
Ella pushed open the door. Just as she did, the cat sprinted
past her and hopped onto the oversized bed where her stepmother sat waiting for
her breakfast. The woman’s salt-and-pepper hair was tucked under her nightcap.
Crinkles were at the corners of each eye and her mouth was drawn down into a
permanent grimace. No doubt due to being unhappy for so many years. Her thin
lips were a deep red, high severe cheekbones and a chin that ended in a point.
She petted the cat, her long slender fingers ruffling the fur between his
shoulders. Loud purrs emanated from the small feline.
“Good morning, Stepmother,” she greeted in her best pleasant
voice.
“Where is my newspaper?” her stepmother asked.
“I’ll fetch it for you.” Ella placed the tray with the
breakfast on the woman’s lap. She did a quick curtsy then dashed from the room.
She hurried down the stairs to the front door and pulled it
open. The rolled-up paper was on the doorstep as usual. But even so, Ella saw
the hint of the headline. Something about a royal decree. As she snatched it
off the stoop, she heard Lucinda shouting her name.
“Ella! Where is my breakfast?”
Ella hurried back up the stairs to her stepmother’s room, her
chest heaving a bit and her legs burning from her brief sprint. Jet had curled
up next to her in the bed, eyeing the breakfast tray.
“Your newspaper, stepmother.”
She scowled as she snatched it from Ella’s hands, then opened
it with a snap. She glowered at her over the edge of the paper.
“What are you gawking at, girl? Don’t you have chores?”
Another quick curtsy. “Yes, Stepmother.”
“ELLA!” Lucinda shouted again.
Ella hurried back down the stairs to the kitchen. As she
arrived, the other two bells were ringing. One for Lucinda and one for
Daniella. She quickly made their breakfast trays. It was a balancing act, but
she managed to carry both at the same time back up the stairs. By the time she
arrived at the landing, her legs were burning and her arms ached. She used her
elbow to push open the door to Lucinda’s room.
MICHELLE MILES believes in fairy tales, true love, and magic. She writes heart-stopping urban fantasy, young adult and adult fantasy, and paranormal romance with an action/adventure twist that will leave you breathless. She is the author of numerous series that includes everything from angels and demons to fairies, dragons, and elves.
She is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). A native Texan, in her spare time she loves reading, listening to music, watching movies, hiking, and drinking wine. She can be found online at Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and more!
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